Key Note Speakers Confirmed for Emergency Planning Society Conference 2008
Sir Michael Pitt, Chairman of the South West Strategic Health Authority, Stephen Hadrill, Director General of The Association of British Insurers and David Shukman, BBC Environment Correspondent are confirmed as speakers for the EPS Conference 2008
The Emergency Planning Society are pleased to announce a number of key speakers who have confirmed their attendance at the Annual Conference in Torquay in June 2008.
Sir Michael Pitt, Chairman of the South West Strategic Health Authority
Learning Lessons from the 2007 Floods
One of the conference highlights will be a highly charged presentation by Sir Michael Pitt. In August 2007, Sir Michael Pitt was asked by ministers to conduct the Independent Review Issues Call to Action on Flood Risk:
"Despite the impressive efforts of emergency responders, much work needs to be done to avoid emergencies of the scale we witnessed this summer happening again.
"The country was fortunate that the impact was not much more severe."
Sir Michael Pitt, December 2007
The final draft of the Review is scheduled to be released in the summer of 2008. Sir Michael Pitt has been invited to present his findings and recommendations to the emergency planning industry at conference.
David Shukman, Environment and Science Correspondent, BBC News
Media Perspective of Climate Change
David Shukman has been environment and science correspondent for The BBC News since 2003 and covers key developments in Climate Change for the Ten O'Clock News and other programmes.
David has reported on the latest research and impacts in locations as diverse as the Arctic, the Antarctic, the Amazon and Africa.
Closer to home, assignments in the UK include last year's flooding, coastal erosion, the urban heat island effect, drought, the changing seasons, and the research of the Met Office's Hadley Centre.
Last year David covered the publications of the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in Paris, Brussels, Bangkok and Valencia and he has reported on the UN's annual climate conferences in Montreal, Nairobi and Bali. He was the BBC's main commentator during coverage of the Live Earth concerts.
Stephen Haddrill, Director General, Association of British Insurers
Stephen Haddrill took up his post as the new Director General of the ABI on 3 May 2005.
Stephen aims to ensure that the ABI is highly influential with Government and regulators on behalf of all its members. He believes in working in partnership with the ABI's stakeholders to build that influence whilst always making clear where ABI stands.
Previously, Stephen was Director General, Fair Markets Group at the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), where he was responsible for the development of the framework within which business operates, including the competition and consumer framework, employment relations, company law, women and equality issues, and also trade and European issues. He held this position from January 2002.
Prior to this, from 1998 until Spring 2002, he held other positions within the DTI, including Director of Employment Relations, and Consumer Affairs. From 1994 to 1998 he was a director of the DTI's Competitiveness Unit, a central policy team reporting directly to the Secretary of State.
From 1990 to 1994 he left the UK civil service to work for the Hong Kong Government as a member of the Governor's Central Policy Unit.
Stephen studied history and economics at Oxford University and joined the Department of Energy in 1978 where he held a number of posts, principally on nuclear issues and as Principal Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Energy. In October 2007, Stephen was appointed Vice President and Chair of the Board of the Institute for Employment Studies, the UK's leading employment and human resources experts.
For full programme details, further speaker profiles and to regsiter for the event, click here
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